Methods and Processes - Politics
In each group, we were given an envelope full of photos of the same theme related to the UK politics. We got photos with school/ classroom scenes like David Cameron and Barack Obama talking to kids in classrooms. Then we were required to analysis these photos and find out what was the background and story behind those given photos. We analyzed these photos from the obvious illustration of education to deeper relationships with the UK government, people involved, effects of that policy/ education reform, etc.
We were then required to choose one of the illustrated political situations/ education policies and take our own photos to express our opinions regarding that education policy. We had to decide on our opinions towards that matter, think about the composition of the photo, design the setting, costume as well as the meaning behind the photo.
We looked into the case of the British government forcing academisation on schools. We found that the government was in fact being self-contradictory in this matter.
The above photo was the piece that we made. This photo was taken in front of an academy school in Deptford. We changed “academy” into “acashemy” emphasising on the money - “cash”, spent on academy schools, questioning whether the government is focusing on “quantity or quality” in education. Does having more academy schools in the country mean better education?
As designers, we don’t just design for aesthetics. We have to pay attention to things happening around us, including the social, political, environmental, economical aspects of our lives. We have to learn how to question things in life, express our opinions, improve our society through designs.